How to Choose the Perfect Vintage Engagement Ring

Choosing an engagement ring is quite possibly one of the most important decisions you will ever make. It may be just a ring, but if you get it wrong you risk upsetting your future wife – which is hardly the best way to start married life!

There are hundreds of ring styles to choose from, but if you want a ring that is unique, yet stylish, a vintage engagement ring is a good choice. Since buying an engagement ring of any description is hard, here is a quick guide to help you find the perfect vintage engagement ring for your future fiancé.

Why Go Vintage?

Vintage rings come from a different era. Each one is different. This is no mass-market ring from a generic jeweller. You won’t be offered a tray of identical cut diamond bands where each one is the same, except for the price tag. No other woman will have a ring quite like this one, which is very important for a lot of women.

Choosing the Right Style

Engagement rings are a matter of personal choice, but not necessarily yours. Most men are in the dark when it comes to ring shopping. They don’t have a clue. They might canvas opinions of their nearest and dearest, but ultimately they never know whether their fiancé-to-be will love the ring until she actually sees it.

The only way you can be certain whether your girlfriend will love the ring you choose is if she is there when you buy it. However, this is not exactly romantic, so your best bet is to check out other jewellery she owns and use this as a guide to the styles she likes.

Vintage rings are often more decorative than modern engagement rings. Visual impact is important – the ring has to look ‘right’. Look at the ring as a standalone piece, as vintage rings rarely look good when paired with a wedding ring.

Before buying a vintage ring, check that it can be resized if necessary. You should also look at the stone settings, to make sure none are loose.

Are Vintage Rings More Valuable?

Modern gold rings are 14 carat whereas antique or vintage rings tend to be 18 or 15 carat gold.

Stones should also be checked for quality and clarity. Larger diamonds will be graded, but always check stones for chips or internal blemishes, as these will affect the value of the ring. In the case of larger stones, the carat weight may be less than you would expect, as diameter of the stone was considered to be more important than depth.

Provenance of the Ring

The great thing about a vintage engagement ring is that it has a history attached. Hopefully the history is a happy one with a romantic twist, but either way, the ring is so much more interesting than a generic ring.

Vintage rings are quirky, often more decorative, and sometimes cheaper. If your girlfriend loves vintage things, she will definitely love a vintage engagement ring.